Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
• explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
• describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to express my concern about the possibility of closing the local sports and leisure centre. I strongly believe that this facility is very important for our community and should remain open.

My family and I visit the centre several times a week. I usually go to the gym after work, while my younger brother attends swimming lessons every weekend. My parents enjoy using the walking track and fitness classes to stay healthy, We also meet our friends there to play badminton and basketball, making it a great place to socialize.

The sport and leisure centre plays an important role in our community. It encourages people of all ages to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the first two bullet points well, describing personal usage and the community importance of the centre. However, the third bullet point regarding the possible effects of closure is entirely missing. Furthermore, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are covered and expand your writing to meet the length requirement, providing more detail on the consequences of the centre's closure, such as the impact on local health or social cohesion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear opening and distinct paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices is generally appropriate, such as 'while' and 'also', which help connect ideas within sentences. However, because the letter is incomplete and lacks a concluding paragraph, the overall progression is stunted. To improve, ensure you include a formal closing and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your paragraphs more fluidly, ensuring the transition between your personal experience and the broader community impact is seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with clear and relevant terms such as 'facility', 'socialize', and 'maintain a healthy lifestyle'. The language is natural and conveys the intended meaning without difficulty. However, the range is somewhat limited and lacks the more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would elevate the response to a higher band. To improve, try to incorporate more varied collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to community services and urban planning to demonstrate a broader lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a minor punctuation error where a comma is used instead of a period after 'stay healthy', but this does not impede communication. The sentence construction is clear and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If the centre were to close, the community would suffer...') to discuss the potential effects of the closure.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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